ARRI Alexa MINI

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ARRI announces the new ALEXA Mini, a versatile additionaltool in the ARRI ALEXA camera range that combines a compact and lightweight formfactor with the same unparalleled image quality that has made the ALEXA system a goldstandard for the industry. Designed for specialized shot-making, the ALEXA Miniperfectly complements a full ALEXA shooting kit and allows crews to eliminate thecomplications of working with third-party cameras by keeping everything within a singlesystem that is trusted all over the world.

To maintain ARRI’s famously rugged build quality in a small and lightweight camera, anumber of unique design solutions have been incorporated. These include highlyintegrated and environmentally sealed electronics, a lightweight carbon housing and asolid titanium PL mount that connects directly with the new internal sensor mount toensure a super-stable flange focal distance, even when using large lenses. Nimble inuse and hardy on set, the ALEXA Mini is a go-anywhere tool, easy to transport inbackpacks or as carry-on luggage.

The ALEXA Mini can be operated in a number of ways: by wireless remote control, as anormal camera with the ARRI MVF-1 multi viewfinder attached, or with an on-boardmonitor and controlled via the user button interface on the camera body. Light enough tobe comfortably held at arm’s length in a hand rig, its compact size and extremely quietoperation also make it ideal for tight shooting conditions. The symmetrical designpermits filming in any orientation, including upside-down and in portrait mode, whilemultiple accessory points enable highly creative mounting solutions. In addition, theALEXA Mini’s interchangeable lens mount can be replaced with any of those designedfor the ARRI AMIRA, allowing the use of B4 video and EF mount stills lenses.

Equipped with a 4:3 sensor, automatic de-squeeze mode for anamorphic productionsand frame rates of 0.75-200 fps, the ALEXA Mini records ProRes or uncompressedARRIRAW either in-camera to CFast 2.0 cards or to a specially-designed externalCodex recorder that can record image streams from up to four ALEXA Minissimultaneously – a compelling option for multi-camera setups such as 360° plate shots.ALEXA Mini 1Images from the ALEXA Mini will perfectly match those from all other ALEXA cameras,making the final grade easier and quicker.

Integrated functionality is at the heart of the ALEXA Mini’s efficient and self-containeddesign. A built-in lens motor controller allows new active lens motors to be connecteddirectly to the titanium PL mount, while ARRI Lens Data System (LDS) technologyprovides frame-accurate metadata that can save time and money both on-set and inpost. Wi-Fi connectivity means that iOS or Android devices can be used to remotelycontrol camera functions such as the motorized internal ND filters, which permit rapidresponses to changing light conditions without adding bulk to the camera configuration.The body design is optimized for use with new-generation brushless gimbals,multicopters and other specialized rigs. It is compact enough in the lens direction toallow the use of standard PL mount lenses even on lightweight and space-constrainedrigs, such as gyro-stabilized aerial systems. The camera’s superb low-light performancemakes it perfect for underwater work; dedicated underwater housings are currently beingdeveloped by leading manufacturers.

Like the ARRI AMIRA, the ALEXA Mini can record 4K UHD ProRes images, facilitatingreal-time 4K UHD output and simple pipelines for high-resolution deliverables. Moreimportantly, the Mini and all other ARRI cameras with the ALEV III sensor offerunrivalled overall image quality by focusing not just on spatial resolution, but also onother parameters such as colorimetry, skin tones and High Dynamic Range (HDR). Thisis equally true whether the chosen output is HD, 2K, 4K UHD or one of the nativeresolution outputs like uncompressed ARRIRAW 2.8K or ProRes 3.2K, ensuring thatimages captured with the ALEXA Mini are future-proof, whatever new industry standardsemerge.

The ARRI ALEXA Mini is scheduled to begin shipping in May 2015, with orders beingtaken from March. A prototype of the ALEXA Mini will be on show at the British VideoExpo (BVE) from February 24-26, 2015, in Booth J30.